Annual Meeting 2019

by Elizabeth Harder Schrock
First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, Minnesota​

​​Worship services at Central Plains Mennonite Conference are a highlight for many of us who attend Annual Meeting, and this year was no exception. From beautiful banners and joyfully on-theme announcements to harmonious singing in multiple languages and communion on Sunday morning, we were led in worship inspired by the movement of the Holy Spirit. 

This year's annual meeting took place at Iowa Mennonite School near Kalona on June 20-23--two weeks after the church's celebration of Pentecost. But Pentecost has not merely come and gone, said Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns, keynote preacher for the weekend. Pentecost is no less than "God's great reclamation project," and we are called to participate in that project of reclaiming all of creation. 

Dr. Bridges Johns is Professor of Spiritual Renewal at Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee, and has directed the Society for Pentecostal Studies. She has participated in major ecumenical conversations, including the ongoing Mennonite Church USA-Church of God dialogue. In addition to her many credentials, Dr. Bridges Johns is a gifted, passionate preacher who filled us with a sense that the Holy Spirit was present in our midst. 

And how we need the Spirit's presence in our "postmodern wilderness," which she vividly described as an age of absence, absence of truth, absence of norms, and absence of identity. Friday morning's sermon was rooted in Exodus 33:12ff, in which Moses pleads with God to know God better. The worst he can imagine is the absence of God: "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here" (v15). The Israelites were in the wilderness, still in search of their identity and purpose and not yet in covenant with God. In that absence, they had turned to "spectacle" --in their case, worship of the golden calf. In our times, the spectacle has moved into the world of government, church (think strobe lights and smoke machines), and of course, social media. But spectacles quickly turn cruel and dark, where people without a sense of identity and purpose participate with their claps or boo's from a distance, not fully engaged.

What the church has to offer in this postmodern wilderness is presence. Where God's Word is given, said Dr. Bridges Johns, there is always God's presence. Where Jesus, the living presence of God, is followed, there is God's presence. And the Holy Spirit that inspired the Word is always present when scripture is read and studied. 

Dr. Bridges Johns noted that Central Plains Mennonites are a people of the covenant. As such, she encouraged us to also be people of presence, to hunger for God to go with us as Moses did. "This time we're in doesn't look too good," she admitted, "and we can't go there unless GOd's presence goes with us. That is enough." We do not need to fear the future, for God rushes in when we ask. 

In her second sermon, Dr. Bridges Johns extended the theme of presence to Jesus' promise in John 14:15-24 to not leave his disciples orphaned. The "Spirit of truth" will bring them through dark times to come--again, dark times not unlike our own reality, where "truth has forsaken these lands." 

Dr. Bridges Johns pointed out that Anabaptists have a particular commitment to obedience to the way of Jesus. CPMC bears witness to that in our Covenant of Spiritual Practices, in which we as a group "seek transformation toward Christlikeness and renewal by the Holy Spirit." If Anabaptists have focused on Jesus as the way, Evangelicals and Baptists lead the church toward following Jesus as the truth. And Pentecostals' contribution is to point toward Jesus as the life, living in us: "On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you" (John 14:20). 

This indwelling of the Spirit isn't so much about suggesting an appropriate Bible verse to us here and there, but rather a whole new level of existence. In Dr. Bridges Johns' description, "it is the arm of God reaching out, sweeping down and taking us into God's economy, into God's life." She encouraged us to hunger for this mystical way of life, where we get to enter into the household of the church and where we in turn can say to anyone: "welcome to our new world--the place where Jesus abides and where you are loved."

In her final sermon, Dr. Bridges Johns again linked Pentecostals' and Mennonites' gifts to the larger church by asking what could happen if the Spirit of power were to be joined with the Spirit of peace. In fact, that is what living in the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) is all about. The powerful wind and fire of that day were signs of God's plan to reclaim and restore the entire cosmos to shalom. Our own restoration--our salvation--brings us into active participation in God's great restoration project. And in being the present, patient, faithful church--"singing together in beautiful harmony" -- we are pointing to, and preparing for, the day when all shall be filled with the glory of God. 

"Don't grow weary, but hunger for the new," urged Dr. Bridges Johns, because we know that it will be good.

Annual Meeting 2019

by Lois Janzen Preheim
Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman, South Dakota

Central Plains Mennonite Conference celebrated several transitions as we met for Annual Meeting this year. On Friday afternoon, delegates and guests gathered for the installation of new ministry staff, Amanda Bleichty and Susan Janzen. Then on Friday evening the assembly celebrated and gave thanks for the ministries of Tim Detweiler and David Boshart. 

At the installation service on Friday afternoon, incoming Conference Moderator Shawn Nolt humorously referenced his background in computer engineering when he invited CPMC to think about what installation means. In addition to other considerations and often lengthy installation processes, he suggested that when choosing new software, one needs to think about what you want the system to do. In the same way, the conference churches need to be thinking again as we work with new staff, "What do we want the new people to do?" Unlike a computer, the church is an organic body, and there are at least two callings to new staff: one from God and one from the community. Each of the new staff have their own internal sense of these two callings. So when these callings mesh together into decisions we all affirm, it is a wondrous thing. 

Amanda Bleichty, former pastor of Washington Mennonite Church, was installed as the Conference Minister for Christian Formation. Amanda began her position in January and she and her husband are expecting their first child in July. As she reflected on these changes during her installation response, she expressed a note of excitement for the future. "While changes can bring anxiety and fear, I am excited for all of these life transitions. I'm excited for the possibilities as a new ministry team begins working together. I'm excited about building a family here amid the larger family of brothers and sisters in Central Plains." Amanda has taken over the role that Shana Peachey Boshart vacated in July of 2018. 

Susan Janzen, the former pastor of Cedar Falls Mennonite Church, was installed as the Conference Minister for Ministerial Leadership. Susan will begin her position in August, taking over for Tim Detweiler as he retires. Susan reflected that it has been 21 years since she began in pastoral leadership and that lately, she has been living with a growing sense that it is time for her to begin mentoring another generation of ministering people. 

At the farewell celebration for Tim Detweiler and David Boshart later Friday evening, Tim also expressed the idea that "it is time." For him, it is time to lay down responsibilities and awareness of the whole conference and to attend to his wife, children and grandchildren, and maybe a woodworking project or two. he said, "It has been an honor to serve Central Plains Mennonite Conference and there will be many parts of this work that I will miss, but I am also looking forward to the next chapter in my life called retirement."

David Boshart will also leave Central Plains at the end of July to pursue other opportunities, and said of this transition, "Every year at Annual meeting, I fall in love with the people of God who make up Central Plains. It was a powerful experience to pass the symbols of our conference (the basin and towel, the pitcher, and the peace pipe) to such warm, capable, and competent servant leaders who will guide Central Plains to a new level of witness and faithfulness. 

At both of these transitional celebrations, symbols and gifts were exchanged, laughter was heard, and tears were shed. One powerful gift was a set of plaques expressing gratitude to Shana, Tim and David from the Hispanic churches in our conference. After giving the plaques, Ramiro Hernandez led in circles of prayer and blessing for these three leaders who have led Central Plains so wisely for so many years. These prayers echoed and affirmed Amanda's call to prayer, "I ask that as these changes happen, you keep all of our ministry team in your prayers, and that you give us grace and encouragement as we continue the good work of this conference."

Annual Meeting 2019

Changing Patterns

By E. Elaine Kauffman
Retired pastor, First Mennonite Church (Mountain Lake, MN)

​Numbers were dwindling. Emotional and physical resources were waning. The maintenance and up-keep needs of an aging building became overwhelming. Energy efficiency was low. In a way, you could say, our building pushed us into making the decision to sell it and move out, a choice that turned out well in spite of our fears. 

Group cohesion was good: seen in little gaggles of conversation that hung around after the morning service, gatherings for "Supper at Six" two Wednesday evenings per month, and a strong sense of group identity. In spite of suggestions that we could disband as a church or join another congregation en masse, neither of those options seemed to be preferred. 

Conversations with at least two other church groups that might be interested in acquiring the property ended in nothing. Finally, the decision was made to list the property with a realtor. It was a heart-stopper for some long-time members to see that "for sale" sign on the lawn; even knowing it was practical did not make it easy. 

Leadership was proactive about keeping everyone informed as plans went forward. No one was eager to see the building used for apartments or commerce, but that might have to happen. However, the offers seemed low. Then, in a surprising week, everything seemed to happen at once. On a November Tuesday at the annual meeting, the trustees were authorized to go ahead with any offer they deemed reasonable. Sunday night the congregational chair called to say, "We have an offer...and they want to take possession at the end of the year."

Quick work went into listing removable objects and letting members indicate what they would like to keep; everything else would go "as is" to the Hispanic Pentecostal group buying the building. One of the best feelings was that the building would continue to be used for its original purpose, a place of worship and praise to God. Major adaptations were in order. Office space and a room for our library books were arranged with our sister congregation, Bethel Mennonite Church. Among the possibilities considered, we discerned that we did not want to meet at a different time of day, nor to use a separate space in another church's building at the same time they would be meeting. The chapel space of the local nursing home, normally unused on Sunday mornings, became the option we decided to try. Cupboard space to keep songbooks was an added generous gift on their part. 

The space was a good fit for our size. We like to sing and we could actually hear each other better than before. I loved being able to hear the voices of the children mingled with adults as they learned to join in the Lord's Prayer. In addition, the half a dozen members living in the nursing home or the assisted living facility next door could now walk to church without worrying about the weather or transportation. We also welcomed other residents on days when they were unable to attend their own services. 

People pitched in as they were able: setting up chairs, restacking them, picking up hymnals. The gaggles of conversation continue as strong as ever. A hanging box of file folders is a practical substitute for mailboxes. Meetings can be held in the facility or member's homes or in the Bethel church. Bethel also offered their space for funerals. Potlucks and other events that center around the kitchen have been a challenge, but creative solutions, such as holding potlucks in the café of our local MCC store, have worked well. 

The changing of our patterns has, on the whole, been good for our congregation. Moving out of our building was not the end of our story, but rather the beginning of a new life-giving chapter.

Changing Patterns

In 1994, Cedar Falls Mennonite Church, a small congregation of about a dozen families, purchased a church building (c1915) near downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa. 

Within a decade, the congregation revisited the issue of building ownership. Although some of the supporters of the original purchase were no longer part of the congregation, discussion resulted in a renewed commitment to ownership. 

Over the years the building mortgage was paid off and space was rented to another congregation and to a private pre-school. The latter rental agreement remained in effect. Over time, changing demographics resulted in fewer members with the skills to maintain the building, and periodic repair costs prevented building a long-term maintenance fund to cover future needs. 

By 2016, it was clear that necessary repairs and improvements, including making the building more physically accessible, would require more than $160,000, not counting future maintenance costs. 

In Fall 2016, the discernment process intensified with a strong commitment to involve as many congregational voices as possible. Six congregational meetings focused around these questions: How do we live out our church mission? Who are we as a church? What concerns and/or excites you about this conversation? What issues are important to consider during this discussion? What does a/this building mean for the life of our church? What role(s) does a/this building play as we live out our mission?

We sought congregational input through large group discussions (sometimes using a "talking stick"); table discussions at potluck lunches; written questionnaires; a straw poll asking individuals to rank priorities, values, and possible actions identified in prior discussions; and inviting individuals to speak confidentially with the elders, church chair, or pastor about concerns they preferred not to make public. Throughout the process we provided printed summaries of meeting discussions. Our goal was inclusive, open, and transparent communication. 

Just before Advent, we concluded a congregational meeting by lining up in a "Keep or Sell" continuum, which revealed that we had reached a widely-shared preference to sell our building. We knew that further time-consuming discernment was needed regarding what our path would look like following the sale, but we were ready for the congregational chair, pastor and elders to devise our next steps. 

In the spring of 2017, we formed a "Relocation Exploration" committee that was charged with (1) studying the information gathered from the congregational discussions, (2) investigating local space options, (3) keeping the elders and pastor apprised of the committee's efforts and seeking any input or counsel needed, (4) preparing a recommendation for our congregation, and (5) keeping the congregation apprised of the work of the committee in an open, transparent process. Committee members toured three local church buildings, meeting with church leaders who were open to considering sharing physical space with another congregation. Ultimately, the committee recommended renting space from First Presbyterian Church--just two blocks from the building that we were selling. 

After a series of conversations with representatives from First Presbyterian, we signed a 3-year rental agreement that began mid-July 2018. It provides for shared use of the kitchen and dining room; office facilities for our pastor; Sunday School rooms; shared nursery services; and exclusive use of a large multi-purpose room that we renovated prior to relocating in late August. "Our" space accommodates worship, fellowship, library, and adult Sunday School functions. (The sale of our former building was finalized in October.)

We have received an extraordinarily hospitable welcome from our hosts, with whom we have shared Sunday potlucks, a Christmas Eve service, an Ash Wednesday service, and a series of Lenten meals and programs. To our deep joy, we have learned that another local congregation was inspired by our experience with First Presbyterian to adopt a similar model by inviting another congregation to share their church building. 

Having "come home to a place we've never been before," we eagerly look forward to the next chapter in the life of our congregation.

Changing Patterns

By David Boshart
Executive Conference Minister

In recent weeks, the news carried live coverage of the fire that destroyed the 850-year old Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Within two days, contributions to rebuild the church topped 1 billion Euros. Clearly this building means a great deal to a lot of people. 

From the beginning, places to meet the living God have mattered in the identity and witness of the church. God's idea about the place of meeting was first a tabernacle, a moveable space to accompany people as nomads on the way to the Promised Land. As the people of God became settled in the land, King David imagined a permanent place of meeting--a house of cedar where God could live. God contested the notion that it would even be desirable to God to be confined to a house made by human hands. Eventually a temple was built. The temple was destroyed, the temple was rebuilt, only to fall again. The Temple Mount remains a contested place of meeting to this day. 

Mennonites have had their own challenges with understanding the role of the place of meeting. We have tried to be careful to remember that "the church" is people who gather to meet the living God, not a building. It was not an accident that What is this place? is the first hymn in the blue hymnal. It is a profound statement about what we mean by our places of meeting. The relative modesty of our meeting places with generous space for fellowship and study further reinforce the notion that the nature of the church is located in peoplehood. 

Even so, place matters when it comes to meeting with God. For new churches, the acquisition of a building is a symbol of legitimacy as a church. In some cases, the maintenance of a pristine building can overshadow the ministry of spiritual formation and witness in the world. Churches that have experienced losses of members due to demographic shifts or declining spiritual vitality find themselves straining under the burden of building maintenance and encroaching decay. 

How shall we think about our places of meeting? it is clear that there will not be one answer for every context. All places of meeting are local and therefore unique. Permanence where places of meeting are concerned is not aligned with the theology of the early church that believed that our citizenship is in heaven and we are pilgrims by vocation, people on the way. 

This is not to say that churches should divest of facility. But here we have two stories of churches that have done careful discernment about their places of meeting. First Mennonite (MN) and Cedar Falls Mennonite Churches have made bold moves to sell their buildings. Having done so, they are finding new opportunities to renew and reframe the ministry, identity and witness of their churches. Other churches, such as Bethesda Mennonite, have adapted the worship space to be a more intimate, authentic expression of their community as it is today. Still other churches, like Kalona Mennonite, have renewed Christian education spaces to reflect the value of their commitment to the children who are formed in the faith in that place of meeting. nine of our churches gather in the meeting places of other congregations. The continual reminder of their own "guest" status fosters a spirit of hospitality to those who are seeking a spiritual home where they can meet the living God. Christ Community Church gathers in a synagogue. Recent experiences of shootings at synagogues in other parts of the country have meant that this congregation thinks about what happens if one's place of meeting is a target for violence. Still other congregations are very much in the process of discerning whether it is best to move into home settings. 

Clearly the question is not buildings or no buildings. The question is, who are we as God's people and how does our space of meeting reflect and support our commitments, our values and our hopes as the people of God in this place where we live and move and have our being?

by Gretta Rempel,
First Mennonite Church, Iowa City, Iowa

Who is your hero? I thought about it as the sharing made its way around the circle of Mennonite youth. Maybe my great grandparents who made their way to the midwest and started a new life, or Marie Curie, because she is a pioneer in science. My peers answered with George Washington, Menno Simons, Sojourner Truth, teachers, coaches, parents, and grandparents. Society often glorifies veterans, but why didn't anyone name one as their hero? As the discussion grew, more questions followed. What does it mean to be a peacemaker or a peace church? What does scripture say about being a peacemaker? And finally, what is a conscientious objector?

Karla Stoltzfus Detweiler, Pastor of Christian Formation at First Mennonite Church (FMC), led our gathering with these questions. Our high school youth group in Iowa City, which included youth from FMC and Torre Fuerte Iglesia Menonita, joined the youth group from West Union Mennonite Church in Parnell, Iowa, to focus on our answers to these challenging questions in a three-part discussion. 

During our first session, Karla focused on living a peace-oriented life and the function of a peace church. We looked at familiar Bible passages that focused on peace and were encouraged to see them with new eyes by diving into the context more deeply. Next we discussed how those passages apply to our lives. Finally, we brainstormed ways that we can promote peace in the earth/world, in our community, church, school and family, and also inner peace. it was impressive to see the many ways that even our small group can and does promote peace. Imagine what a difference we can all make when we work together. Karla summed up the message of the evening with "Jesus is the center of our faith, community is the center of our lives, reconciliation is the center of our work."

This idea of peace threading through our whole life carried through into the second session, where we began talking more specifically about what it means to be a conscientious objector (CO). Both of our churches invited men to share their personal experiences of being a CO during World War 2 and the Vietnam War. Our guests were Wilbur Litwiller, Darvin Yoder, Galen Yoder, and Wilbur Yoder from West Union and Joe Krabill and Wilford Yoder from FMC. Several shared influential stories from their youth that sparked a peace mindset beyond what they learned while attending a Mennonite church or school, leading them to claiming CO status. As the sharing continued, another component that many panelists touched on was how they pursued service as a result of being a CO. Many of the men continued to serve after fulfilling their required alternative service term and still live a life of intentional peacebuilding and servanthood. 

Our final session focused on building our own CO file. How will we show that we are peacemakers if there would be a draft and we would be faced with the possibility of serving in the military? The Central Plains Mennonite Conference website includes resources for youth leaders that our sponsors consulted. Our sponsors encouraged us to think about papers we've written, bulletins from our peace churches, letters from mentors or teachers, even letters that we've written and sent to ourselves that would outline our character and views on peace. All of these are ways we can show that we are conscientious objectors because of our faith. 

Having this three-part MYF discussion about being a CO helped me understand what I believe. Hearing stories of those who experienced a draft themselves and explanations of why claiming the status of CO made a difference in their lives solidified in me my nonviolence and peace mindset. I am grateful to be part of a Peace Church and loving community that encourages me to have heroes like Marie Curie and my grandparents who spent most of their lives volunteering for MCC.

by Peg Burkey, Bellwood Mennonite Church

It was a cold, snowy weekend when the Nebraska Mennonite women met for their annual retreat at The Leadership Center in Aurora on March 1st and 2nd. Despite the cold, the fellowship was toasty warm, the laughter ran deep, and the inspiration was wise and strong. The retreat was planned and hosted this year by the women from Bellwood Mennonite Church in Milford. 

We were grateful for the insights and wisdom of Kate Friesen from Sioux Falls, our guest speaker for the retreat. Kate's theme for her four messages was "What God Wants Women to Know." A few of her sub-themes were: "You are Enough," "You are Valued," "You are More than a Label," "You are Loved," and "You are Needed." For Joy Steckly from Bellwood, a highlight was the message, "God doesn't need us to do stuff for Him, yet He has chosen to accomplish His work in us and through us. [God] will give us the tools we need, when we need them. True growth happens when we realize we can't do it on our own." Another high point was Kate's vivid monologues portraying different women in the Bible. Those characters really came alive for everyone in the group!

The music for the weekend was led by a worship team from Bellwood, with special guest, Deb Brunkow, joining the team. The times of singing drew us into God's presence, and helped us focus our thoughts on the theme for each worship session. The last time of worship on Saturday closed with Communion and sharing testimonies. Char Roth from Bellwood said, "I was encouraged by our inspirational speaker and the music! It's always good to see and renew friendships with our sisters from the other Nebraska Mennonite Churches."

Fellowship and building relationships with women from other churches is a key value of the retreat. There were opportunities for this during our shared meal and snack times, free time on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, a water aerobics session in the pool and a workshop on "Feeding our Bodies to Serve the Lord."

As the women said their good-byes, they were already anticipating next year's retreat, to be hosted by East Fairview Mennonite Church.

by Gloria Graber, Salem-Zion Mennonite Church

In February, I attended a meeting like no other meeting I've ever experienced. It was four hours long and full of strangers and in a town where I'd never been. it took place in a bar and grill in a South Dakota town 90 miles from Freeman. 

The subject of this meeting is what brought me, my husband Gary, and another couple to this unlikely place. As the Freeman Network for Justice and Peace (FNJP) chair, I had been alerted to the dire needs that this community was beginning to experience. Fleeing the violence of gangs and threats of death in their own countries, and at the invitation of family members already living in South Dakota, immigrants have been making their way with only the clothes on their backs to this small rural community. 

The strangers we met in this meeting were a motley group. Retired South Dakota State University professors, nurses, a banker, Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic, Mennonite, and non-denominational. The owner of the bar where we met had relocated to this area 10 months earlier and everyday she sees people come in the door, hungry and looking for food. In her compassion, she tries to help them, giving them food and answering their questions. It's overwhelming work. 

That day we heard the stories of several immigrants who were struggling to make a place for themselves in the community and to provide for their families. In response, we, along with our new friends, took those requests home to our church communities and began collecting donations of food, money and household items. We've made several trips back and forth, ferrying donations and volunteers for various projects. We've formed relationships and expanded our understanding; we've learned a lot. 

At our meeting that day, we discovered an unexpected group of people committing to heeding the call found in Leviticus 19:33-34: "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself..."  We met as strangers, but left as friends...common, ordinary people trying to follow the example of Jesus. 

FNJP and several Freeman Mennonite Churches are participating in the work of the kingdom of God in South Dakota by heeding a call that looms large in our backyard; a call to form relationships and to care for these immigrants who were created and deeply loved by God.